Sport

Knox, KC into basketball grand finale

KINGSTON College (KC) will have a chance to achieve the KFC/ISSA National Schools Basketball double after upstaging defending champions Hydel High, 50-49, in the semi-final at the National Stadium Courts on Friday.

The North Street-based school which also booked its place in the Junior final on Wednesday, will face Knox College, who defeated last season's beaten finalists St Andrew Technical, 50-44, in the other semi-final in Mandeville.

At the Stadium Courts, Damion Johnson led with 19 points, 16 rebounds and six assist, and he was supported by Clifton Jean with 15 points and five rebounds as the famed Purples pulled off a most dramatic victory.

Hydel's Deano Hibbert was the game's topscorer with 24 points and five rebounds, and he received support from Maurice Smith with 12 points.

Hydel started the better of the teams and looked as if they would stay on top of their opponent the entire match, as they led 12-9 at the first interval.

But KC came out a different team in the second quarter and up their game to win the period 15-13, and trailed by only one (24-25) going into the half.

The under-dogs then took the game away from the favoured Hydel in the third quarter, as they held an eight-point lead (36-28) at one stage, although Hydel reduced the deficit to two points (36-34) at the end of third.

Hydel reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter (39-38), but Kingston College soon wrestled away the advantage once again and held it with one minute 47 seconds when Dwayne Pottinger scored a three-pointer to put Hydel up 49-48.

But with 13 seconds remaining Johnson capitalised on a face break and restored the advantage to Kingston College at 50-49.

The defending champion then failed in their final attempt to overturn the deficit, and Kingston College came away with a most memorable win.

Kingston College's coach Dennis Thompson said the defence won the day for his team.

"Hydel played a very strong game, but we came here to make defence do the job and defence did," he stated.

Hydel's coach Kurt Stewart thought it was an entertaining game and that the better team on the day won.

"We lost by one points, so I won't complain because we lost to a great team," he said.